Apparatus for burning fuel oils



1 I May 927 c. E. CHAPMAN APPARATUS FOR BURNING FUEL OILS Filed Oct. 16,1925 .3 Shoots-Shoat 24 1927. c. E. CHAPMAN APPARATUS FOR BURNING FUEL OILS Filed Oct. 16. 1925 3 Sheets-Shoot 2 w m I u 2 H W W 1 4 m 1 4 m N y w n z V.\ l W M A x illiHwilUiiiwliiliiil m o A W 0 iv c. E. CHAPMAN APPARATUS FOR BURNING FUEL OILS Filed Oct 1.6. 1925 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 c. .E Chapman Patented May 24, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. CHAPMAN, OF FORT EDWARD, NEWYYORK, 'ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH GOODFELLOW, OF FORT. EDWARD, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR BURNING FUEL OILS.

Application filed October 16, 1925. Serial No. 62,851.

T his invention relates to an improved apparatus for burning fuel oils and seeks, among other objects, to provide an apparatus utilizing fuel vaporand steam in such manner that a flame of intense heat is generated. V

The invention seeks, as a further bject,'to provide an apparatus wherein the steam will 7 be superheated and maintained at such temperature that the oxygen of the steam willbe uniformly liberated to provide a primary oxygen supply mixing with the fuel vapor, wherein a primary supply of air will be drawn in beneath the flame to furnish a secondary oxygen supply mixing with the fuel vapor, and wherein .a third supply of oxygen will be'introduced into the flame by a secondary snpplyof air induced by concentrated chimney draft to whip the flame crosswise from all sides thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein the water Will be gradually heated and turned to steam, wherein the steam willbe gradually superheated and dried, wherein the fuel willbe initially heated and then vaporized by the superheated steam to produce a vapor mingling with the steam to form a fuel mixture,

and whereinthe mixture will then be super.- heated and delivered to the burner, the

gradual heating accomplished, preventing sudden generation of excess vapors as well as minimizing the precipitation of carbon deposits. 7 v

And t to invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide an apparatus wh ch -W1ll be well. adapted for general use, which may be readily installed, and whereinthe parts will be joined together in such a manner as to prevent freezing, so that said parts may be readily disassembled for cleaning or reipair.

Other objects of the invention not specifically mentioned in the foregoing will appear in the course of the following description.

Figure 1 is a perspective view with parts broken away showing my improved apparatus in connection with a domestic cooking stove, s i

* Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken medially through the apparatus,

Figure 3v is a side elevation, parts being broken away and shown in section, and

Figure A is a transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.-

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have shown my improved apparatus in connection with a conventional domestic cooking stove. As illustrated in Figure 2, the stove is provided with the usualfire box 10 beneath which is the ash pit 11- while above the fire box are the front griddles 12 separated by a center piece 13. At the front of the fire box is a door 14 whichcarries a damper 15, and extending forwardly beneath the door is the usual hearth 1.6., As will be at once understood, the damper 15 may be opened for admitting air beneath the firebox 10 while, as shown in Figure 1, the.

closely spaced draft openings 19.v This combustion tube is rested within the rash pit 11 ofthe stove to upstand within the fire box 10 and in order that the combustion tube may be accommodated in the fire box, the usual grate of the stove is, as also shown in'Figure 2, removed. Positioned within the fire box at the level of the upper end of the combustion tube a sealing plate20. This plate is apertured to snugly receive the upper end ofthe tubeand forms an airtight partition within the fire box, dividing the fire box into upper and lower chambers 21 and 22'respectively. 'Overlying the sealing plate is a protective lining 23' of fire clay, and overlying the walls of the fire box to extend above and below the plate is a like lining-24.

Extending vertically within the combustion tube 17 is a tubularsteam generator 25 closed at its. upper end by an end wall26. As will be observed, the combustion tube 17 is arranged beneath the center piece 13 of the top of the stove and-the generator 25 'terminates,-at its upper end, closebelow'said center piece. Closing the generator at its lower end isa head 27 which rests'upon a bracket 28 for supporting the generator within the combustion tube and extending throughthe head 27 axially within the generator is a steam tube 29 which is closed at its lower end while the upper open end of said tube terminates close below the end wall 26 of the generator. The steam tube is welded or otherwise secured to the head 27 and is thus rigidly connected therewith.

Extending vertically within the combustion tube 17 in spaced parallel relationto the generator is a similar tubular oil vapor generator 30 which is closed at its upper end by an end wall 31. Closing said generator at its lower end is a head 32, and extending through the head axially of the generator is a mixing tube 33 which terminates at its upper open end close below the end wall 31 of said generator. Atits lower end, the tube 33 is turned laterally to form a horizontally disposed nozzle 34 having legs 35 which rest upon the bottom wall 18 of'the combustion tube 17 and in order that said legs may support the weight of the generator, the tube 33 is welded or otherwise rigidly connected with the head 32. As shown in Figure 2, the nozzle extends at the bottom of the combustion tube 17 beneath thehead 27 of the generator 25, and

formed in said nozzle mid-way between said generator and the generator 30 is a nozzle opening 36. Closing the nozzle at its outer end is a tapered plug 37 which frictionally fits in the nozzle, and formed on said plug is a head 38, by means of which the plug may be withdrawn while, by hammering on the head, the plug may be readily driven into the nozzle without likelihood of mutilating the plug. A slip fit between the plug and nozzle is employed so as to avoid freezing of the plug, and rigidly connected at its smaller end with the plug is a conical strainer 39, the larger end of which snugly Thus, fuel mixture fits within the nozzle. flowing downwardly in the tube 33 to the nozzle 36 must pass through the strainer so that the strainer will function to remove any foreign particles in the mixture and, as will be observed, the strainer is preferably of'a length to extend substantially to the inner end of the nozzle. Should the strainer become clogged, the plug 37 may, of course, be removed for removing the strainer when the strainer may be readily cleaned. Extending between the lower end of the steam tube 29 and the head 32 of the generator 30 is a connectingpipe L0. v

It is now to be observed that the heads 27 and 32 are tapered internally to receive the tapered ends of the generators 25 and 30.

Slip joints are thusprovided between the generators and said heads to avoid freezing between the parts. Furthermore, for a like reason, the ends of the pipe 4:0 are tapered to frictionally tit in the tapered openings in the lower end of the tube 29 and in the head 32. This construction also provides an arrangement whereby the parts may be readily detached from each other and removed. By tapping lightly on the upper end of the generator 25, said generator may be disengaged from the head 27 when the generator may be withdrawn. In like manner, the generator 30 may be disengaged from the head 32 and withdrawn, so that, as occasion may demand, the generators may be readily displaced and renewed. Furthermore, by tapping on the pipe 40, this pipe may be re.- leased, when either generator with its head or both generators may be withdrawn from the combustion tube. Accordingly, the apparatus may be readily taken apart and repaired or cleaned. Formed on the elbows of the pipe 40, as seen in Figure l, are lugs dl which may be struck with a hammer or the like for removing or replacing said pipe.

Disposed within the lower portion of the combustion tube 17 above the nozzle opening 36 and its concentric relation thereto is a vertically disposed burner tube 42, and supporting said tube is a sleeve 43 connected with the tube by suitable webs. As shown in Figure 2, said sleeve slidably fits over the generator 30 to rest upon the head 32 for sustaining the burner tube in position. Resting upon the upper ends ofthe generators 25 and 30 is a preferably circular baffle 44 which may be of suitable fire clay. This baffle is of greater diameter than the combustion tube 17 and is recessed at its lower side to more or less snugly accommodate the upper ends of the generators so that the baflle will be firmly held thereon while, however, should occasion demand, the baflie may be readily displaced. As will be observed, the batlle lies close below the center piece 13 of the top'of the stove as well as close below the griddles 12.

Suitably located adjacent the cooking stove is an elevated'water tank 45 from which leads a pipe 46,; and connecting said .pipe with the head 27 of the steam generator 25 is a pipe a7, a valve 48 being arranged at the angle between said pipes. Arranged adjacent the water tank 4L5 is an oil tank 49, and leading from said tank is a pipe 50 which is connected with thehead 32 of the generator-3O by a pipe 51, a valve 52 being arranged at'the angle between, said pipes. As best. seen in Figures 1 and a of the drawings, the valves 48 and 52 are-equipped with sprockets 53, and trained about said sprockets is a sprocket chain 54 connecting said valves to operate in unison. As shown in Figure 3, slip joints are provided between the pipes 17 and 51 and the heads 27 V and 32 of the generators so as to avoid freezing, and pro ecting from said pipes are lugs 55 which ,may be tapped with a hammer or the like for removing or replacing the pipes.

till

tion of the combustion tube 17 is a pipe 58, flow through said pipes being controlled by the valve. Resting upon the bottom wall 18 of the combustion tube is a preferably asbestos mat 59, and formed in the forward side of the combustion tube near the lower end thereof is a. door opening 60.

In starting the apparatus, the Valve 57 is opened when oil will gravitate through the pipes 56 and 58 from the oil tank 49 to discharge onto the mat 59 for saturating said mat. When this is accomplished, the Valve 57 is closed, and a match is introduced through the opening 60 at the lower end of the combustion tube 17 for lighting the oil at the mat. The flame thus produced will. of course,-rise upwardly about the nozzle and about the generators for heating these parts, when the valves 4:8 and 52 are opened for admitting water into the head 27 or the generator 25 and admitting oil into the head 32 ot the generator 30. Thus, the apparatus will beset into operation, which operation will now be described.

In the operation of the apparatus, a fuel mixture is, as will be explained, supplied to the nozzle 34 and this fuel mixture flows out at the nozzle opening 36 into the burner tube as where combustion takes place with-v in the upper end portion of said'tube. From this point, the flames rise upwardly about the upper end portions of the generators and St) to strike the battle ist whence the products of combustion are carried off through the stove to the chimney. The damper of thestove 14 is opened'and also, the hearth 16 is preferably drawn for wardly a slight distance, as shown in Figure 1, so that an ample supply oi primary air will flow into the fire box of the stove beneath the sealing plate 20, and attention is now directed to the fact that, due to the presence of said sealing plate in the tire box, the draft of the chimney will be concentrated at the combustion tube 17 -so that all of the primary air taken in will be caused'to iiow hrough said tube The combined area ol. the openings 19 of said tube is substantially equal to the effective cross sectional area of the tube and accordingly, the flame will be drawn upwardly through the tube about the upper ends of the generators with considerable force, so that the upper ends of said generators will be heated to a Very high temperature, the upper end portions of the generators being normally red hot. As a consequence, the water fed into thefhead 27 of the geneator will, as the water rises in said generator, be heated and converted into steam and as the steam reaches the top of said generator, the steam willbe superheated and dried. At this point, the steam "lows downwardly through the tube 29 and throughthe pipe into the head 32 Ol the generator 30 and meets the incon'iingsupply of oil. The oil entering the head 32 is thus heated by the superheated steam and vaporized thereby to mingle with the steam and form a fuel mixture. The mixture thus produced then rises to the top of the generator 30 and as the mixture rises in said generator, the n'iixtur-e is superheated to a very high temperature so that the oxygen of the steam is'liberated and coming-led with the mixture. Thesteain thus-provides a primary oxygen supply. From the upper end of the generator 30, the fuel mixture then flows down 'ardly through the pipe on into the nozzle 34, thence through the strain or 39 and out through the nozzle opening 36 into the burner tube 432 at which point the mixture is, as previously indicated, ig-

nited. A secondary supply oi? oxygen is furnished by the primary air which is drawn in through the lower end portion of the combustion tube 17 beneath the flame to rise upwardly with the fuel mixture through the V burner tube, while a third supply of oxygen is furnished by the air which passes through the upper end portion of the con ibustion tube above the burner tube. Since the whole oi the chimney draft is concentrated at the combustion tube, the air which is drawn into said tube above the burner tube enters through the openings 19 in jets striking the flame tronrall sides with considerable force. The jets of air are thus caused to pierce the iiaine and perfect-the combustion of the fuel mixture so that when the flame ihes the battle plate td, an intense heat is iliz-ed from the flame. I

A certain amount or heat is, of course, conducted downwardly through the walls of the generator 25 and 30 so that the generators are cooler at their lower ends while the ten'iperature thereoi gradually rises toward the upper ends of said generators. Furthermore, since the air is drawn into the combustion tube 17 by the chimney draft, the lower end portions. of said generators are cool-ed by the inflowing air currents. Thus, since the water and oil are fed into the generators at th lower ends thereof, the oil and water are not immediately subjected to an intehse'heat. On the contrary, the water is gradually heated and converted into steam while the oil is initially subjected to the temperature or the superheated steam supplied to the head 32 tromlsaid generator. As tlie i uel Vapors and steam rise in the generator 30, the'heating thereof is further gradually continued until the superheated mixture is formed at the upperend' of saidgenerator. gradually heating the water and oil, sudden generation and expansion of vapors is ob yiated while also, the precipitation ofcarbon deposited is minimized. As will" be perceivechsteam is drawn from the generator 25 at the upper end thereo'f at which In thus v point in the generator the steam is heated to the greatest temperature, and likewise, the fuel mixture is drawn from the upper end of the generator 30, at which point in the latter generator, the fuel mixture is heated to the greatest temperature. At the same time, the tubes 29 and 33 are housed and protected from the fittll'le by the generators.

Attention is now directed to the fact that should the water supply fail, sufiicient air will be taken in below and above the burner tube 4-2 to efficiently support combustion so that while the flame will not be intense as when the water is supplied, smoking will, however, be prevented. .l ractical test has shown the apparatus to be highly etlicient and economical in fuel consumption and, as will be perceived, the apparatus is well adapted for general use.

Having thus described what I claim is:

1. An apparatus for burning fuel oil including a steam generator heated to a great-- er degree at one end than the other, n'ieans supplying water to the cool end of said generator, an oil vapor generator heated to a greater degree at one end than the other, means supplying oil to the cool end of said vapor generator, means for conducting steam from the heated end'of said steam generator to the cool end of said vapor generator to mingle with the oil vapors and form a fuel mixture, a portion of the latter means being housed within the steam generator, a nozzle supplied by said mixture and disposed to effect the heating of said generators by the combustion of said mixture, and means for conducting the fuel mixture from the heated end of said vapor generator to said nozzle and having a portion thereof housed Within the vapor generator.

I 2. An apparatus for burning fueloils ineluding a steam generator, an oil vapor generator, means for conducting steam from the steam generator to the oil generator to mingle with the oil vapors and form a fuel n'iixture, a nozzle supplied by said mixture and disposed to ettect the heating of said generators, and a burner tube disposed above the nozzle for confining the flame and maintaining the intake portions of said generators cool.

3. An apparatus for burning fuel oils including a steam generator, an oil vapor generator, means for conducting steam from the steam generator to the oil generator to mingle with the oil vapors and form a fuel mixture, a nozzle supplied, by the mixture and disposed to elfect the heating of the generators by the combustion of the mixture, and an element housing portions of the generators for concentrating the draft and cooling said portions of the generators the invention,

below the flame by air currents and forming air jets at the level of the flame penetrating the flame.

4t. Anapparatus for burning fuel oils including a steam generator, an oil vapor generator, said generators being heated to greater degrees at one end of their ends than the others, means for conducting steam from the heated end of the steam generator to the cool end of the vapor generator to mingle with the oil vapors and form a fuel mixture, a nozzle supplied by said mixture and disposed to effect the heating of said generators by the combustion of the mixture, and a combustion tube housing the cool end portions of said generators forconcentrating the draft and cooling the latter end portions of said generators by air currents, said tube being provided with openings for the admission of air into the tube in jets penetrating the flame. V

5. An apparatus for burning fuel oils inch. ling a steam generator, an voil vapor generator, said generators being heated to greater degrees at one of their ends than the others, means for conducting steam from the heated end of the steam generator to the cool end of the vapor generator to V mingle with the oil vapors and form a fuel n'iixture, a nozzle supplied by said mixture and disposed to effect the heating of said generators by the combustion of the mixture, a combustion tube housing the cool end portions of said generators for concentrating the draft and cooling the latter end portions of said generators by air currents, said tube being provided with openings for the admission of air into the tube in jets penetrating the flame, and a draft plate associated with said combustion tube for confining an induced draft to flow through said tube.

6. The combination with aheating device having a tire-box" subject to chimney draft, of means disposed in the tire-box for generating steam and oil vapors mingling .to form a fuel mixture, a nozzle supplied by said mixture and disp sed. to effect the heating of said n'ieans by the combustion of the mixture, a sealing plate in the firebox dividing the firebox into an upper chamber open to the chimney draft and a'lower air supply chamber incommunication with the atmosphere, and a combustion tube housing portions of said first mentioned means and open at its upper end to said upper;chamber, the tube and said plate concentrating the chnnney draft for drawing the flame. about said first mentioned means and the tube being provided with openings for admitting air beneath the flame and admitting jets of air at the level of the flame penetrating the flame.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES E. CHAPM. N. [as] 

